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Aside: If you are writing stuff this good (and this niche) I would say ditch the ads. They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. Or at least us

Aside: If you are writing stuff this good (and this niche) I would say ditch the ads. They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. Or at least use one of the developer-focused ad networks that just inline ads not pop them up.

unnouinceput 3y ago
What ads? Didn't seen any ads when visiting the page. Are you browsing the web without uBlock Origin by any chance?
- lloydatkinson 3y ago
  I am always amazed how many tech orientated people don't use any kind of ad blocking
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - flockonus 3y ago
    Having AdBlock extension, but like all my extensions also have "This can read and change site data > when you click the extension" while turn on to any domain that "misbehave" with sticky ads, videos or whatever annoying flashing things. Otherwise I'm just hurting content creators for no good reason. I would not enable an extension on any domain i input my email, password, or otherwise have sensitive private information.
    - treyd 3y ago
      > Otherwise I'm just hurting content creators for no good reason. It's less about the content creators and more about supporting a system / business model that isn't really sustainable and reliant on business practices that distract and in many cases actively harm consumers. Most content creators have Patreon profiles or some similar service for taking donations in a structured and community-driven way, why don't you use an adblocker and donate there?
    - anyfoo 3y ago
      That’s why Safari has content blocker extensions. Those cannot read the content or do network requests, they can only block content. I use 1Blocker. It’s made of several extensions, only one or two non-essential ones that are not pure content blockers (and so can read the site), and which I have turned off, with still very good results.
  - FpUser 3y ago
    I use Brave browser. It has built in ad blocker
- quickthrower2 3y ago
  Yes, when you have a bunch of devices, sometimes one of them doesn't have it set up yet.
- afavour 3y ago
  I see this kind of “ads? I didn’t see any ads in my ad-blocking browser!” response practically every time someone mentions ads on here. Can I ask what you’re trying to achieve? Do you think the HN audience is unaware of ad blockers?
  - hfkwer 3y ago
    It's just an expression of irritation towards people who contribute nothing of value to the discussion about the content of the article. "oh no I see ads on your site it sucks!" Erm, okay? Who cares? Install an ad blocker if it bothers you so much. It's faster than typing a comment on hn for greater pay off.
  - gkbrk 3y ago
    > Do you think the HN audience is unaware of ad blockers? Clearly some portion of the HN audience might be unaware, as they are in this thread complaining about ads.
djmips 3y ago
Data point: I browsed without an adblocker on phone in Chrome and didn't see any ads.
EvanAnderson 3y ago
I’m on iOS and the ad was unobtrusive. I’m very happy to support Ken. Unless the ads are more disruptive on other platforms I’d say leave ‘em in.
- quickthrower2 3y ago
  Another factor though is for tech people: 1. Either they block the ad, in which case no revenue anyway. 2. Or they don't block it and it looks like an ad ridden site at first glance, so makes some people kneejerk close it.
  - anyfoo 3y ago
    I use an adblocker, but even if I didn’t, I’d have a very hard time to think that someone who is actually interested in the subject would think this is an “ad ridden” site and close it. The quality of the blog posts are apparent immediately.
asdfasdfjkl 3y ago
> They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. Unless you were about to donate a few pennies to the author, I'm not sure "freeloaders" is the audience they were aiming for.
Aurornis 3y ago
> They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. I disagree. The vast majority of the internet doesn’t care, because it’s the internet and this is normal. The types of readers who will read a blog post and critique the author for things unrelated to the content of the blog (such as the presence of ads) are generally not a great audience to cultivate, and definitely not a great vocal minority to cater to. There are numerous examples of YouTubers being hesitant to turn on ads in their early days because they think it will drive away potential subscribers and drive down view counts. Then they turn them on eventually, growth continues exactly as before, and their only regret is not turning them on sooner. Be careful not to mistake the vocal minority’s complaints as a common concern.
NotYourLawyer 3y ago
>2023 >even being able to tell that a website has ads Wew
bhdlr 3y ago
> Aside: If you are writing stuff this good (and this niche) I would say ditch the ads. They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. Or at least use one of the developer-focused ad networks that just inline ads not pop them up. Similarly, not having https properly configured is a huge turnoff - it literally takes 5 minutes with LetsEncrypt
- justsid 3y ago
  Jfc remind me to never write for nerds. You guys are insufferable.

unnouinceput 3y ago

What ads? Didn't seen any ads when visiting the page. Are you browsing the web without uBlock Origin by any chance?

lloydatkinson 3y ago
I am always amazed how many tech orientated people don't use any kind of ad blocking
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- flockonus 3y ago
  Having AdBlock extension, but like all my extensions also have "This can read and change site data > when you click the extension" while turn on to any domain that "misbehave" with sticky ads, videos or whatever annoying flashing things. Otherwise I'm just hurting content creators for no good reason. I would not enable an extension on any domain i input my email, password, or otherwise have sensitive private information.
  - treyd 3y ago
    > Otherwise I'm just hurting content creators for no good reason. It's less about the content creators and more about supporting a system / business model that isn't really sustainable and reliant on business practices that distract and in many cases actively harm consumers. Most content creators have Patreon profiles or some similar service for taking donations in a structured and community-driven way, why don't you use an adblocker and donate there?
  - anyfoo 3y ago
    That’s why Safari has content blocker extensions. Those cannot read the content or do network requests, they can only block content. I use 1Blocker. It’s made of several extensions, only one or two non-essential ones that are not pure content blockers (and so can read the site), and which I have turned off, with still very good results.
- FpUser 3y ago
  I use Brave browser. It has built in ad blocker
quickthrower2 3y ago
Yes, when you have a bunch of devices, sometimes one of them doesn't have it set up yet.
afavour 3y ago
I see this kind of “ads? I didn’t see any ads in my ad-blocking browser!” response practically every time someone mentions ads on here. Can I ask what you’re trying to achieve? Do you think the HN audience is unaware of ad blockers?
- hfkwer 3y ago
  It's just an expression of irritation towards people who contribute nothing of value to the discussion about the content of the article. "oh no I see ads on your site it sucks!" Erm, okay? Who cares? Install an ad blocker if it bothers you so much. It's faster than typing a comment on hn for greater pay off.
- gkbrk 3y ago
  > Do you think the HN audience is unaware of ad blockers? Clearly some portion of the HN audience might be unaware, as they are in this thread complaining about ads.

djmips 3y ago

Data point: I browsed without an adblocker on phone in Chrome and didn't see any ads.

EvanAnderson 3y ago

I’m on iOS and the ad was unobtrusive. I’m very happy to support Ken. Unless the ads are more disruptive on other platforms I’d say leave ‘em in.

quickthrower2 3y ago
Another factor though is for tech people: 1. Either they block the ad, in which case no revenue anyway. 2. Or they don't block it and it looks like an ad ridden site at first glance, so makes some people kneejerk close it.
- anyfoo 3y ago
  I use an adblocker, but even if I didn’t, I’d have a very hard time to think that someone who is actually interested in the subject would think this is an “ad ridden” site and close it. The quality of the blog posts are apparent immediately.

asdfasdfjkl 3y ago

> They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. Unless you were about to donate a few pennies to the author, I'm not sure "freeloaders" is the audience they were aiming for.

Aurornis 3y ago

> They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. I disagree. The vast majority of the internet doesn’t care, because it’s the internet and this is normal. The types of readers who will read a blog post and critique the author for things unrelated to the content of the blog (such as the presence of ads) are generally not a great audience to cultivate, and definitely not a great vocal minority to cater to. There are numerous examples of YouTubers being hesitant to turn on ads in their early days because they think it will drive away potential subscribers and drive down view counts. Then they turn them on eventually, growth continues exactly as before, and their only regret is not turning them on sooner. Be careful not to mistake the vocal minority’s complaints as a common concern.

NotYourLawyer 3y ago

>2023 >even being able to tell that a website has ads Wew

bhdlr 3y ago

> Aside: If you are writing stuff this good (and this niche) I would say ditch the ads. They really will turn off the audience you want to attract. Or at least use one of the developer-focused ad networks that just inline ads not pop them up. Similarly, not having https properly configured is a huge turnoff - it literally takes 5 minutes with LetsEncrypt

justsid 3y ago
Jfc remind me to never write for nerds. You guys are insufferable.